To the editor:

After our loved ones have left this earth, we all have had to make the decision of where to trust the care of their precious remains. Many people in this community have chosen to have their loved one’s remains placed in Oak Hill Cemetery, our family included.

We have attended many funerals and Memorial Day ceremonies at Oak Hill in the past, and during those times I have never seen a reason for complaint. Everything has been well maintained and looks beautiful, as it should be.

The Oak Hill Cemetery I visited last weekend looked much different. Tree branches were down. Grass wasn’t mowed. Headstones were half-buried in mud, filthy and covered with dead bouquets. What’s changed? Now that the pomp and circumstance of Memorial Day is over, nobody cares what state the cemetery is in? Well, I care. It’s a disgrace. It’s disrespectful to every single person who has loved ones buried there. People have given lots of money to you and put trust in you to take care of their loved one’s remains and keep them safe and treat them with dignity. Letting the facility that houses them go to shambles is not doing that. I’m not asking for reasons for why it’s like this. My request is very simple. Fix it. There is no excuse why it should be like this. You have been given a reasonable task to do. Do it. You owe it to the families who have put their trust in you to take care of their loved ones. Fulfill your part of your obligations.

Christine Elliott,

Lawrence